Water ejector



, April 14, 1931. G F, UNDE 1,800,302

- WATER EJECTOR Filed March 10, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l jwezwzGzwfaaefinia April 14, 1931. G. F. LINDE 1,800,302

WATER EJECTOR Filed March 10, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill/1711 w -4 Jim10672???) GmZZaJZ zinie p] w n/$42M;

Patented Apr. 14,1931

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUSTAVE F. LINDE, OF MADISON, WISCONSIN,ASSIGNOR '10 SCANLAN -MORRIS COM- PANY, OF MADISON, WISCONSIN, ACORPORATION OF WISCONSIN WATER EJ'ECTOR Application filed March 10,1928. Serial No. 260,696.

My invention relates to water ejectors, and more particularly tocjectors of the type for use in connection with the evacuation of heattreating chambers and the like.

In certain types of heat treating apparatus, as for example apparatusused for sterilizing dressings, gowns and other materials with highpressure steam, means must be provided for evacuating the Challi 1o berinto which the materials which are to be sterilized are to be placed. Inusing such apparatus the materials are placed within the chamber, andafter said chamber has been evacuated, steam is introduced for thepurpose of sterilizing the materials. After the materials have beensubjected to the steam for a predetermined period, the. chamber is againevacuated to withdraw the steam and condensate therefrom and saidchamber is then opened to permit the removal of the materials. r

My present invention contemplates the provision of an ejector means incombination with a heating chamber of the above mentioned type which issimple and durable in construction and which is associated with athermostatically operated valve connected with the heating chamber, theoperation of said valve being controlled in response to water from thesupply side of the ejector means.

Another object of my invention is to provide a water ejector having athermostatically operated valve in association there 5 with, saidejector being readily applicable to sterilizing chambers and the like toeffectively exhaust the chamber prior to the entrance of steam, theoperation of said valve being controlled in response to the temperatureof the water supplied to the ejector and also in response to thetemperature of the steam supplied to the chamber.

A further object of my invention is to provide an ejector means operablein respouse to the flow of water therethrough, a portion of the watersupply to the ejector means being diverted for the purpose of etfectingthe actuation'ot a thermostatically controlled valve, said combinationof elem-ents being readily attachable to a heat treating chamber such assterilizing chambers and the like.

A still further object of my present invention is to provide an ejectorin combination with a chamber which is connected with a steam supply,said ejector operating to effectively evacuate the chamber, thetemperature of the water from the supply side of the ejector serving tomaintain a thermostatically operated valve connected with the chamberopen until steam is admitted therein, at which time the thermostaticallycontrolled valve will close and thereby permit the establishment ofsteam pressure Within the chamber.

In addition to the above mentioned features, my invention contemplatesthe provision of a water ejector for use in connection with theexhausting of heat treating chambers and the like, the supply side ofthe ejector being provided with a by-pass conduit connected with athermostatic valve, the temperature of the water from the by-passconduit serving to maintain the thermostatic valve open until steam fromwithin the heating chamber is associated with the valve, at which timethe water supply to the ejector will be cut off to permit the buildingup of steam pressure within the chamber.

These and other objects will be more apparent from the followingdetailed description when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view of a sterilizing apparatus representing oneembodiment of my invention, a portion of the ejector, thermostatic valveand heating chamberv being shown in section to more clearly illustratethe functional characteristics of these elements;

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the ejector andassociated thermo-- static valve; and,

Figure 3 is a figure similar to Figure 2 and discloses a modified meansin the form of a water jacket for cooling the thermostatic bellows ofthe valve, as distinguished from the direct water spraying .devlcedisclosed in Figure 2f I tion or exhausting of the heat treating chamf IReferring now-to the drawings wherein like numerals have been employedto designate similar parts throughout the various figures, it will beobserved that I have disclosed a sterilizing chamber 2, Figure 1,

which is presented within a casing and surrounding the casing 4 is asteam acket 6. This-steam jacket 6 is closed at one end by means of asuitable end plate 8 and at the opposite end by means of an annular cap10, said end plate 8 and cap 10 being supported by suitable framemembers 11. One extremity of the heat treating chamber 2 may be openedto the atmosphere by re- 'movinga cover plate 12 therefrom, the oppositeend of the chamber 2 being provided with a steam inlet 14 which isconnected by means of pipes 16 and 18 to a steam supplyor generator 20.The introduction of steam to the chamber 2 may be controlled by asuitable valve 22 in the pipe 18. A platform 24 extending transverselywithin the lower portion of the chamber 2 serves to receive articles tobe sterilized, such as dressings, gowns and other materials oflikeenature.

. After materials have been placed within 'the chamber 2, saidchambermay be evacuated by means of a water ejector indicated generallyby the numeral- 26, Figures 1 and 2. lhis ejector .26 includes a nozzle28 which extends downwardly within a coupling 30, the lower extremity ofthe nozzle terminating within a tapered conduit 32. The upper extremityof the nozzle 28 is connected to a water supply (not shown) through theagency of suitable pipes 34 and 36, the pipe 36 being connectedhvith avalve 38 for controlling the supply of water to the ejector 26. Waterflowing through the ejector nozzle 28 serves to effect the evacuaber 2when a valve stem is lifted. Thus when this valve stem 40 is elevatedand water i-sflowing through the ejector nozzle 28, air from within thechamber 2' will be drawn downwardly through a pipe 42, a gravityactuated valve 44, a chamber withi a coupling 46- which houses [thevalve 40' and thence through suitable piping into the coupling 30.

The valve stem 40 depends from a ther mostatic bellows 48which issuitably secured at its upper extremity Within the coupling 46 such asby means of a threaded cap 50. Threaded within the wall of the coupling46 is a member 52 in which is mounted the chamber 58, Figure 2, waterflowing,

within the pipes 62 and 60 would be free to pass through the check valveand to be transmitted in the form of a spray to the thermostatic bellows48. The ejector nozzle 28 and the elements associated therewith areconstructed so that when water is'flowing therethrough, a sufiicientback pressure will be created in response to the restricted flow ofwater through the nozzle 28 to cause a portion of the water supply topass through the pipes 62 and 60 and consequent. ly to be directedagainst the bellows 48. The temperature of the water thus sprayed uponthebellows will cause a contraction thereof and a consequent lifting ofthe valve stem 40 carried by the bellows. Elevating the valve stem 40 inthis manner enables the ejector 26 to effectively evacuate the treatingor sterilizing chamber 2, and the gravity valve 44 is so constructedthat moisture from within the coupling 46 is prevented from entering thechamber 2 during the evacuation thereof. Thus the evacuation of thechamber 2 may be continued until the desired vacuum has beenestablished, at which time the valve 22 in the pipe 18 may be opened toadmit live steam into the chamber 2, the valve44 in'this instanceserving to maintain the vacuum within the chamber.

' The steam thus, introduced within the chamber 2 will pass downwardlythrough the pipe 42 and the valve 44 and the temperature of the steamwithin the coupling 46 will cause the thermostatic bellows 48 to expand,thereby causing the lowering of the valve stem 40. With the water supplyvalve 38 closed, the pressure of the steam within the coupling 46 willbe sufficient to cause the ball 56 within the check valve 54 to be movedto the left, Figure 2, thereby preventing the flow of steam from chamberthrough the bypass pipes 60 and 62. The lowering of the valve stem-40 inresponse to the expansion of the bellows 48 closes the-communicationbetween the coupling 30 of the ejector 26 and the chamber 21, therebypermitting steam pressure to be established within the chamber 2. Thepressure of the steam within the chamber 2 is indicated by a suitablepressure gauge 64, and the articles placed within the chamber forsterilization are subjected to this pressure for a predetermined period.The water supply valve is again opened to effect the actuation of theejector 26 and the ball 56 of the check valve will be moved to theright, Figure 2, in response to the pressure of the water from theby-pass pipes and thereby cause the cooling and con traction of thethermostatic bellows 48. It will thus be apparent that upon theelevation of the valve stem 4(1 the ejector 26 will operate to withdrawsteam and condensate from the sterilizing chamber 2 and the evac uationmay be continued until a vacuum is again established within the chamberso that the dressings, gowns or other materials may be thoroughly dried.After these materials have been thoroughly dried, a valve 66 within thecover 12 may be opened to break the vaccum within the chamber 2 and saidcover may then be readily removed and the sterilized articles removedfrom the platform 24.

It is also to be understood that steam from within the generator 20passes through a pipe 68, Figure 1, into the steam jacket 6 surroundingthe casing 4 of the chamber 2 and serves to continuously heat saidchamher, a suitable pressure gauge 70 being employed to indicatethepressure of the steam within the jacket 6. In this manner the chamber2 is effectively insulated and the temperature therein is maintainedduring the removal from and introduction to the.

chamber of articles.

In Figure 3 I have or alternative form of ejector; This ejector differsstructurally from the device disclosed in F igures' 1 and 2 in that thecoupling 46 is provided with a water jacket 72 and this obviates thenecessity of employing the check valve 54 shown in Figure 2, the waterjacket 72 being directly connected to the bypass pipe 60. An additionalreturn pipe 74 is also'providedto conduct water from the jacket 72 to apoint below the ejector coupling 30. By employing the jacket 7 2 shownin Figure 3, the thermostatic bellows 48 may be cooled indirectly asdistinguished from the method of directly spraying the bellows with/Water as described in connection with Figure 2,,

The operation of my improved apparatus may be briefly set forth asfollows: Assume that the articles to be sterilized have been placed uponthe platform 24 within the container 2 and the cover 12 secured incovering relation with respect thereto, and that the steam pressure inthe jacket 6 has been brought up to a pressure of approximately 18 lbs.,or a steam temperature of 254 degrees F. By opening the valve 38' waterwill be supplied to the ejector nozzle 28 and I to the by-pass pipes 60and 62. \Vater from these by-pass pipes passing through the check valve54 will be sprayed, upon the bellows 48 and the temperature of the waterwill cause the valve stem 40 carried by the bellows to be elevated,thereby establishing communication between the ejector coupling 30 andthe chamber 2. Evacuation of the sterilizing chamber is continued untila vacuum of from 8 to 12 inches is secured and subsequently steam fromthe generator 20 is introduced into the chamber 2 and the water supplyvalve 38 troduced is passed through the pipe 42 and through the'gravityactuated valve 44 and the temperature of the steam will cause theexpansion of the bellows 48 and the movedisclosed a modified closed. Thesteam thus in- I ment of the ball 56 to the left, Figure 2, therebysealing the chamber 2 to permit the building up of the requiredpressuretherein. The steam which is introduced into the chamber 2 ismaintained at about 18 lbs. pressure and sterilization of the articleswithinthe chamber is continued for the desired length of time. After theperiod of sterilization has been completed the steam supply isdiscontinued by closing the valve 22 and the water supply valve 38 isopened. The spray of water will again be directed upon the bellows 48"from the bypass pipes thereby causing the valve stem 40 to be elevated.and thus rendering the ejector 26 op erative to withdraw steam andcondensate from the chamber 2. A vacuum is again established within thechamber to completely dry the articles contained therein and after thevalve 66 has been opened to break the vacuum within the chamber, thecover 12 may be removed and-the articles removed from the chamber forfuture'use. It will also be understood that if the pressure of the steamwithin the system is sufficient, the ball 56 will move to the left inresponse thereto and hence the water supply valve 38 need foregoing itis to be understood that my invention provides a very effective and.efficiently operable water ejector means for use in connection withsterilizing chambers and the like of the class described. By employing aportion of the water. supplied to the ejector I have been able to veryeffectively control the actuation of a thermostatically operated valvewhich serves to greatly. facilitate the use of sterilizing apparatus orother typesof apparatus which employ the use of heat treating chambers,simulating the described sterilizing chamber. By A employing a wateractuated ejectormeans of the class (l6SC1'lbGd,"ll1 connection with athermostatic valve, the installation of expensive steam operatedejecting mechanisms heretofore employed is avoided. In other words,- thenecessity of installing means for=disposing of exhaust steam-which hasin some instances heretofore been used for the purpose of evacuatingchambers and the like is obviated by employing my invention. Theionlysteam supply which is required in using sterilizers equipped with myimproved water ejector is that which must necessarily be' employed forsterilization purposes, and it is only necessary to connect thedescribed ejector to a convenient source of water supply. Thus myinvention provides a very economical yet highly efficient means forevacuating heating chambers particular type of thermostatic valve hasbeen described, namely a valve provided w1th a thermostatic bellows, itis to be understood that variousforms ofmechanisms might be' employedwithout departing from the splrit and scope of my invention, andtherefore the invention should be limited only by the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

' -1 In an evacuating means of the class evacuating a chamber, and athermostatic valve connected with the supply side thereof adapted to becontrolled in response to water. from the supply side of the ejector forcontrolling communication between said ejector and the'chamber to beevacuated.

2. In an evacuating means of the class described, a water ejector forevacuating a chamber, a thermostatic valve associated therewith forcontrolling communication between said ejectorand the chamber to beevacuated, and means connecting the valve with the supply side of theejector to permit the temperature of the water from said supply side tocontrol the thermostatic valve.

3. In an evacuating means of the class described for application toa'treating chamber, a water e ector for evacuating a chamber, athermostatic valve positioned between the ejector and the chamber, andmeans for conducting fluid from the supply side of the ejector intoassociation with the thermostatic valve to maintain the valve open forpermitting the evacuationof the chamber.

4:. In a device for evacuating treating chambers and the like, a waterejector for evacuating a chamber, a thermostatic valve associatedtherewith for controlling communication between said ejector and thechamber to be evacuated, means connecting the supply side of the waterejector with the thermostatic valve, and. a valve associated with saidconnecting means to control the association of the water from the supplyside of the ejector with the thermostatic valve.

5. In combination with atreating chamber, a water ejector for evacuatinga chamber, a thermostatic valve for controlling communication betweenthe Water ejector and the evacuating chamber, and means for directingwater from the supply side of the ejector into direct contact withthethermostatic valve.

6. In combination with a chamber, a water ejector for producing a vacuumwithin the chamber, and a thermostatic 'valve for con-v trollingcommunication between the chamher and the .Water ejector, said valvebeing controlled in response to the temperature of water on the supplyside of the ejector and also in response to the temperature of the 7medium withdrawn from the chamber. 7 In an evacuating device of theclass described for association with a chamber, a: water ejector forevacuating the chamber, a thermostatic valve for opening and closingcommunication between the chamber and the water ejector, and means forassociating water from the supply side of the ejector with thethermostatic valve to maintain said valve open, said valve adapted to be.closed in response to the temperature of '30 'the medium withdrawn fromthe chamber.

8. In combination .with a chamber for treating materials with a heatedmedium, a water ejector for withdrawing a heated medium from thechamber, and a thermostatic 35 valvefor controlling communicationbetween I/ the chamber and the ejector, said thermostatic valve beingcontrolled in response to the temperature of .water from the supply sideof the ejector and also in response to the temperature of the heatedmedium withdrawn from the chamber.

,9. In combination with a chamber con nected with a supply of steam, awater ejector for evacuating the chamber, a thermostatic valveforropening and closing the communication between the ejector and thechamber, and means for directing water from the supply side of theejector i'n'to direct association with the thermostatic valve, saidthermostatic valve being aflected in res onse to the temperature ofsteam withd l awn from the chamberthrough the action of the ejector.

' 10. In an evacuating means of the class described for connection witha chamber, a water ejector for evacuating the chamber,

a. valve for controlling communication between said chamber and theejector, thermostat-ic means for actuating the valve, and 0 means fordirecting water from the supply side of the ejector to the thermostaticmeans.

11. In an evacuating means of the class described for connection with achamber, a fluid ejector for evacuating the chamber, a n thermostaticvalve for controlling'communij cation between said chamber and the fluidejector,-and means for associating fluid supplied to the. ejectorwiththe thermostatic valve.

12. In an evacuating means of the class described for connection with achamber, a fluid ejector for evacuating the chamber a pipe connectingthe ejector with the chant, ber, a valve positionedwithin the connectingpipe for opening and closing communication between the chamber and theejector, and means for permitting fluid supplied to the ejector to bedirected against the thermostatic valve, thereby effecting the actuationof the valve in accordance with the temperature of the water directedthereagainst.

13. In a device of the class described for attachment to sterilizingchambers and the like having means for supplying steam thereto, a fluidejector for evacuating the sterilizing chamber, a thermostaticallycontrolled valve for opening and closing communication between the fluidejector and the sterilizing chamber, and means for associating fluidsupplied to the ejector with the thermostatically operated valve,thereby maintaining the valve open in response to the temperature of thefluid associated therewith, said valve adapted to be closed in responseto the temperature of steam withdrawn from the sterilizing chamberthrough the agency of the ejector.

14. In combination with a sterilizing chamber of a water ejector, a pipeconnection between the ejector and the sterilizing chamber, a valve insaid pipe connection, a thermostat controlling the valve, and a pipeconnection between the supply side of the ejector and the thermostat,whereby the thermostatic valve is opened upon the admission of water tothe ejector.

In an evacuating means of the class described, including a waterejector, a thermostatically controlled valve connected with the supplyside of said water ejector, means for connecting said valve to a chamherto be evacuated, and means connecting said valve with the discharge sideof the ejector, whereby water from the supply side of the ejector isdirected into associationwith the thermostatically controlled valve andWithdrawn in response to the actuation of said ejector.

16. In an evacuating means of the class described, a water ejector forevacuating a chamber, a thermostatically controlled valve associatedtherewith for controlling communication between said chamber and t theejector, means connecting said valve with the supply side of theejector, a valve associated with said connecting means to control theassociation of the water from the supply side of the ejector with saidther mostatically controlled valve, means for connecting saidthermostatically controlled valve with the chamber to be evacuated, andmeans connecting said thermostatically controlled valve to the dischargeside of the ejector.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

GUSTAVE F. LINDE.

